News

Unions back An Post axe

UNIONS at An Post have agreed to a radical rationalisation of the company’s parcel delivery business that will lead to the loss of 123 jobs.

SDS, which has about 40% of the Irish parcel delivery market and currently employs 427 people, has seen its revenues fall significantly over the past two years. Competition has intensified from companies such as UPS and DHL with international operations who are able to offer customers better tracking of parcels.

Before last year, SDS’s financial problems were largely masked by overall growth in the market.

As well as job losses, the An Post unions, led by the Communications Workers Union, have agreed to more flexible work practices.

The restructuring is expected to cost the company €9m this year, mainly in redundancy payments. This brings SDS’s forecast loss for the year to €18m on an expected turnover of only €76m.